Whereas Alberta could also be finest recognized for its oil and gasoline trade, a convention in downtown Edmonton this week is hyping one other type of vitality: Nuclear.
“The potential is tremendous here,” stated Might Wong, a senior vice-president with energy generator Capital Energy, which is exploring the potential of constructing small modular reactors (SMRs) in Alberta.
“We have a moment in time where we can transform our industry and create a new industry.”
Smaller in scale and output than a standard nuclear reactor, SMRs are inbuilt a manufacturing unit; in principle, they’re cheaper, safer and faster to assemble, and can be utilized in less-populated areas.
Nuclear energy already exists in New Brunswick and Ontario, with Ontario relying on nuclear for greater than half of its electrical energy. The province additionally has plans to ramp up its nuclear capability by way of using SMRs — an initiative that made Ottawa’s current listing of fast-tracked “nation-building projects.”
Might Wong is a senior vice-president with Capital Energy, which is working with Ontario Energy Technology on a plan to doubtlessly convey SMRs to Alberta. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)
Now the thrill has made its approach to Alberta; the province not too long ago arrange an professional panel to discover the potential of constructing reactors, and Premier Danielle Smith, who has expressed reservations about renewables reminiscent of wind and photo voltaic, has stated “there’s a lot to like about nuclear.”
Alberta has been right here earlier than. In 2008, it additionally arrange a panel to discover the potential of nuclear energy, however a decade and a half later, there are not any nuclear reactors to be seen.
So what’s modified this time round?
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has had reservations about nuclear prior to now, however not too long ago appeared to heat as much as the concept, saying there’s ‘a lot to like’ about it. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)
‘Ideal’ timing
The enchantment of nuclear energy is that it may well present a whole lot of dependable electrical energy on a long-term foundation with out a lot in the way in which of emissions, stated Nathan Neudorf, Alberta’s minister of affordability and utilities, in an interview on the sidelines of the SMR Discussion board in Edmonton.
A part of the enchantment is that Alberta isn’t going it alone, he stated. As a substitute, the province can be leaping on a worldwide bandwagon.
Nations all over the world are scrambling to ramp up their nuclear capability as a manner of securing a steady, low-carbon supply of electrical energy. And large-name tech corporations, reminiscent of Microsoft, Google and Amazon, are signing massive procurement contracts to safe a gentle provide of nuclear energy for his or her rising AI and cloud providers.
“All of those things work together to create this timing … making it ideal,” stated Neudorf.
Workers at Power Alberta are pictured doing fieldwork associated to a possible nuclear undertaking in Alberta. (Submitted by Ali Hounsell)
The renewed urgency round nuclear energy is pushed partially by expectations that demand for electrical energy will skyrocket globally within the a long time forward as a consequence of rising demand for every part from air con to electrical automobiles to AI information centres.
Alberta, particularly, can also be contending with demand pushed by a steep enhance in inhabitants and the province’s plan to change into a hub for AI information centres.
Scott Henuset, the CEO of Power Alberta, made an analogous level. His firm plans to construct a nuclear energy station in Northern Alberta, although with a extra conventional CANDU-style reactor reasonably than with SMRs.
“We feel that it does have a place in all of Western Canada, securing the power [supply] and increasing grid stability,” Henuset stated in a Zoom interview this week.
Nathan Neudorf, Alberta’s minister of affordability and utilities, stated nuclear energy might play a task within the province’s decarbonization plans. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)
However the economics of nuclear energy in Alberta might pose a problem; the upfront capital prices are excessive, which might make it a harder promote in a province the place pure gasoline is plentiful and already supplies the majority of electrical energy.
The projected price to develop 4 SMRs at Ontario’s Darlington energy plant is about $21 billion, whereas a large-scale nuclear facility in Georgia price $35 billion US for 2 built-from-scratch reactors.
“Right now, natural gas use is obviously more cheap,” stated Dustin Wilkes, president and CEO of Calgary-based Nucleon, an SMR undertaking developer. “Short term, it’s very difficult.”
Competitors from pure gasoline
Historical past has proven that to be the case.
Within the early 2000s, Power Alberta — then led by Scott Henuset’s father, Wayne — was exploring the potential of constructing reactors close to Peace River. The corporate was later purchased by Ontario-based Bruce Energy, however when the value of pure gasoline plummeted just a few years later, the undertaking was scrapped, Henuset stated.
Whereas the value of pure gasoline stays low at the moment, the worldwide urge for food for nuclear energy has created a a lot totally different funding local weather, Henuset stated. Upfront prices could also be excessive, he stated, however the long-term payoff can be worthwhile given how lengthy nuclear vegetation can run and the way a lot demand for electrical energy is predicted within the a long time forward.
“There is economic viability for nuclear power; we wouldn’t be looking at it if it wasn’t there,” stated Henuset.
With regards to SMRs, particularly, Wong, with Capital Energy, says the prices of the small, prefabricated reactors will probably go down considerably over time — a prediction echoed by trade observers and researchers.
Wilkes stated that whereas nuclear energy is new to Alberta, the province’s benefit is its deregulated electrical energy system, which permits personal operators to construct and compete to promote energy into the market.
Dustin Wilkes, president and CEO of Nucleon Power, says his firm plans to develop SMRs in Alberta and within the U.S. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)
Nonetheless, there are many particulars that have to be ironed out earlier than anybody begins splitting atoms.
Wong stated whereas the enchantment of nuclear is {that a} energy plant can run for a very long time — as soon as constructed, the tools is comparatively straightforward to keep up or improve — it additionally means the prices of working it and the mandatory security protocols should too be factored in over many a long time.
And the nuclear waste produced by the ability vegetation have to be thought of; there was heated debate in Ontario when potential websites are chosen to retailer the fabric.
“Because it’s very long duration, from a development perspective, as well as an [operational perspective], that uncertainty increases much more than traditional technology,” stated Wong.
Utilities Minister Neudorf stated the province should first hear from Albertans whether or not they need nuclear energy within the first place. An internet survey searching for public enter simply closed on Thursday, whereas a request for data from trade and native governments is open till Oct. 25.
Public opinion and social acceptance could possibly be a sticking level, contemplating considerations across the secure storing of nuclear waste and a few high-profile issues with nuclear energy vegetation prior to now.
A 2009 report commissioned by the Alberta authorities made no suggestions about whether or not the province ought to proceed with creating a nuclear energy plant trade, whereas detailing how each type of electrical energy manufacturing has its trade-offs, reminiscent of emissions, water use and total expense.
On the COP28 UN local weather convention in 2023, Canada and several other different nations made a pledge to triple the quantity of nuclear electrical energy across the globe by 2030.
As for Henuset and Wilkes, the 2 CEOs count on it would take someplace round a decade for his or her respective tasks to stand up and operating.
By that time, they are saying, the demand for electrical energy can be even better — and the case for nuclear can be extra compelling.
“We believe in the long-term … that nuclear power wins,” stated Wilkes.
